MATURE

Life hasn’t been kind to me. One moment, I was a carefree eighteen-year-old with dreams of a bright future. The next, I was a 28 year old lady and my world went up in flames. literally. My mom died in the fire that destroyed our home, my little sister is in a coma, and my brother’s in jail for trying to keep us afloat. My dad? He left us drowning in debt and despair.

I thought I’d hit rock bottom, but then I found myself working in a place where dreams go to die, doing things I never imagined just to survive. That’s when he walked into my life, Alex Romanov. Dangerous. Mysterious. And entirely out of my league.

He’s everything I should fear, but there’s something about him that draws me in. Maybe it’s the way he looks at me like I’m more than just another broken soul. Or the way he makes me feel alive when I thought I’d forgotten how.

But Alex has secrets, dark ones that could destroy us both. And as my past collides with his world, I’m left wondering: Can I trust the man who’s slowly stealing my heart, or will his darkness swallow me whole?

This isn’t the life I wanted, but it’s the one I’ve been given.

Alex nudged Noah's shoulder lightly with the back of his hand. "That's my boy," he said with a proud smirk.


Noah chuckled, looking slightly bashful but warm, his face brighter than I'd seen in years.


It was perfect. Too perfect. And it scared me.


As the night started to wind down, I gently tugged on Alex's sleeve and whispered, "Can I steal you for a second?" He raised a brow, amused, but followed without question.


We found a quieter spot just off the restaurant's terrace, away from the low hum of conversation and clinking wine glasses. A gentle breeze brushed past us, carrying the scent of lemon trees and salt from the coast. The city lights sparkled below like a scattered tray of stars.


Chapter 246 - 248